St John the Baptist upon Walbrook explained

St John the Baptist upon Walbrook
Denomination:	Anglican
Years Built:	12th century
Demolished Date:	1666
Location:	London
Country:	England

St John the Baptist upon Walbrook was a parish church in the City of London. It stood in Walbrook Ward, with parts of the parish extending into Cordwainer, Dowgate, and Vintry Wards.^[1] Of medieval origin, it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and not rebuilt.

History

The church stood with its west end on the bank of the Walbrook, and its east end in Dowgate.^[2] It is first mentioned in the 12th Century.^[3] It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1412 and "re-edify'd and adorn'd" in 1621.^[2]

Destruction

Along with the majority of 97 parish churches in the City of London, St John the Baptist upon Walbrook was destroyed by the Great Fire in September 1666.^[4] In 1670 a Rebuilding Act was passed and a committee set up under Sir Christopher Wren to decide which would be rebuilt.^[5] St John the Baptist was not one of the 51 chosen;^[6] instead the parish was united to that of St Antholin, Budge Row,^[7] and the site retained as a graveyard.^[2]

The Parish Registers of St John's were published along with those of St Antholin's by the Harleian Society in 1883.^[7]

References

1. Book: A Dictionary of London. Harben, H.. London. Herbert Jenkins. 1918.
2. Book: Newcourt, Richard. Richard Newcourt (historian)

   . Repetorium Ecclesiasticum Parochiale Londinense. Richard Newcourt (historian). London. S. John Baptist, Rectory. 370–2. 1708. 1.

3. ”Vanished Churches of the City of London” Huelin,G London Guildhall Library Publishing 1996
4. "The ancient office of Parish Clerk and the Parish Clerks Company of London" Clark, O :London, Journal of the Ecclesiastical Law Society Vol 8, January 2006
5. "Wren" Whinney,M London Thames & Hudson, 1971
6. "The City of London Churches" Betjeman, J. Andover, Pitkin, 1967 (rpnt 1992)
7. Book: The Parish Registers of St. Antholin, Budge Row, London, containing the marriages, baptisms and burials from 1538 to 1754, and of St. John Baptist on Wallbrook, London, containing the baptisms and burials from 1682 to 1754. Chester, J.L.. London. Harleian Society. 1883.